About Me

I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, February 15, 2016

F is for F Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born Sept. 24, 1896, in St. Paul Minnesota. One of his claims to fame was his namesake (and second cousin three times removed on his father's side) Francis Scott Key who wrote the lyrics to the "Star-Spangled Banner." After high school graduation, Fitzgerald attended Princeton University and decided to become a writer. As a result, his academic studies suffered and he was put on probation. He quit school and joined the army but never saw action in W.W. 1. However, while he was in Camp Sheridan near Montgomery, Alabama, he met and fell in love with an 18-year-old girl named Zelda Sayre, whom he married in 1920. They had one daughter, Frances Scott Fitzgerald, born in 1921.

Fitzgerald's later years were a progressive decline into alcoholism and writer's block. His wife suffered from mental illness and had to be hospitalized. However, in 1934, Fitzgerald published his fourth novel, Tender is the Night, which was a commercial failure, yet has become one of the "great American novels." He began work on a fifth novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, but succumbed to a heart attack when he was only half finished in December, 1940.

Although Fitzgerald died believing himself to be a failure, his works, in particular The Great Gatsby, went on to become one of the greatest American novels and is now required reading for most high school students in the United States and Canada.

And this is where I insert my personal note of having taught and still teach the novel The Great Gatsby. The first time I read it, I was overwhelmed at the way Fitzgerald has with words. He describes so many things with such colourful (and I really do mean colourful) language. There is the green light at the end of the dock of Daisy's place, the grey of the Valley of Ashes, the white clothes Daisy wears, along with gold, silver, blue, pink, red, and yellow. In the latest movie version of the story, starring Leonardo dicaprio, the colours are brilliant and obvious. dicaprio states that he remembers "reading the book in high school and always thinking of Gatsby as this strong, stoic, suave, mysterious man who had everything under control. But when I read it as an adult I realised he is a hollow man, a shell of a person trying to find meaning, who is not completely in touch with reality. He’s a great tragedy and the story’s a great tragedy, too."

Personally, I'd like to go back to view the original movie that starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow so that I can compare and contrast the two movies. I saw it so long ago and remember not really liking it. However, now that I've dissected the book in order to help my students, I'd like to take a second look.

If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend the latest version.

With thanks to the fascinating Denise Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the faithful Roger, our administrator. Also, fervent thanks to the formidable team of ABCWers who facilitate the commentaries by flying over to leave flashy thanks to everyone for participating.

I too recall watching the movie (Redford version)long ago shortly after reading the book(even longer ago!) but, I have not taken time to watch the new edition of the movie, maybe I will put it in my que and take a look soon.Thanks for the great post and encouragement to see a film I missed!

I was reared in Mexico, so "The Great Gatsby" was not in my required reading list. Although I'm familiar with it, I've never even watched either of the movies. You've got me intrigued, so I'm adding it to my list of must reads. Blessings, my friend!

Wonderful post for F ~ and I loved the book The Great Gatsby and saw both movies ~ both are very good but my favorite is the earlier version with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald was a consummate writer ~ only wish he had experienced appreciation before he died ~ but like so many writers ahead of their time ~ it can be sad ~

Wishing you a happy week ~ ^_^

ps. Crocuses have been coming up for several weeks but snow buried them but probably protected them as now it is rainy and in the 40's. Only sign of spring in MA

I read "the Great Catsby"long ago, but I have to read it again. I didn't put it on my list when I had to do an examination for my English certificate in order to teach at highschools.Thanks for your information, Leslie!Wil, ABCW Team

After we read "The Great Gatsby," our teacher showed us the movie. I liked the movie better than the book. Did you know there is a book about Fitzgerald's wife? "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald" by Therese Anne Fowler. I enjoyed it very much. (But I'm not sure how much of it is fact and how much fiction).

Most interesting information Leslie, although I haven't read the book or seen the movies, I do have a copy of the later one that daughter Astrid got for me ages ago, I still haven't got around to watching it. However after reading your synopsis I shall watch it and report back to you asap...

You did a phenomenal job of telling Fitzgerald's history. He is "one of our boys, you Know" and I did an entire theme on his childhood homes and life several years ago on my blog, and I think that I should probably do it again. He attended St. Paul Academy prior to college, which is the school in which I taught for 30 years; fun to claim him as one of ours!